Research Library Bulletins 4000 - Research Publications 4-2007 The Banksia production manual Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/bulletins Part of the Horticulture Commons, and the Plant Biology Commons Recommended Citation Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. (2007), The Banksia production manual. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Bulletin 4710. This bulletin is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Publications at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletins 4000 - by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Bulletin No. 4710 ISSN:ISSN: 1833-7236 1833-7236 April 2007 Bulletin 4710 April 2007 ISSN 1833-7236 THE BANKSIA PRODUCTION MANUAL By officers of the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia and collaborators from many areas of industry. Innovative Plant Products Project Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia 3 Baron-Hay Court SOUTH PERTH WA 6151 The Banksia Production Manual ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The contribution from the main individual specialists is much appreciated. They are: Kevin Seaton, Max Crowhurst, Gerry Parlevliet, Digby Growns, Aileen Reid, Peter Woods, Bill Wood, Tim Calder and Kim Burke from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. Primary editing was carried out by Julia Berney. The layout of the Manual was carried out in-house by the Document Support Centre. Especially valuable were the contributions by Bettina Gollnow, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and Joanna Srhoj, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Kevin Collins of Banksia Farm at Mt Barker, Western Australia, generously allowed the use of his consultancy notes to develop his practical and knowledgeable contribution. Jenny Greg and Clinton North of Wellstead, Ross Backhouse of Narrikup and Mary Whitehead from Banksia Company in South Australia provided their experience in producing Banksia. The Banksia Production Manual was collated by Gerry Parlevliet, Senior Development Officer and Nikki Poulish Development Officer, Innovative Plant Products Project, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. However, we are most grateful for the many other contributions by way of original material, photographs, suggestions and comments. Mention of a trade name or company in this publication does not imply endorsement of any product or company by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. © State of Western Australia, 2007. Except where the Copyright Act otherwise allows, this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Applications for permission should be addressed to the Director, Information and Knowledge Management, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983. Permission may be given subject to conditions. DISCLAIMER The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from use or release of this information or any part of it. ii The Banksia Production Manual FOREWORD I have pleasure in presenting this Manual to those involved in Banksia production and marketing. It is the culmination of a great deal of work by many people in industry and in the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia. The Manual will provide new and existing growers with a wide range of information that will help them become more profitable. It contains a large volume of new information and rich practical knowledge provided by growers. Growers can expect to find information on markets, economics, production, nutrition, irrigation, pests, diseases and retaining the integrity of the cool chain. I trust you enjoy The Banksia Production Manual and find it useful. Terry Hill MANAGER HORTICULTURE PROGRAM iii The Banksia Production Manual TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................... ii FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................... iii INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... v Chapter 1. Banksia - origins, distribution and biology................................................ 1-1 Chapter 2. Banksia production in Australia .................................................................. 2-1 Chapter 3. Commercial flower growing - is it for you? ............................................... 3-1 Chapter 4. Financial management of Banksia .............................................................. 4-1 Chapter 5. Commercial Banksia species and varieties ............................................... 5-1 Chapter 6. Banksia establishment ................................................................................. 6-1 Chapter 7. Pruning Banksia ........................................................................................... 7-1 Chapter 8. Irrigation of Banksia ..................................................................................... 8-1 Chapter 9. Fertilisers for Banksia production .............................................................. 9-1 Chapter 10. Insect pests of Banksia .............................................................................. 10-1 Chapter 11. Diseases of Banksia ................................................................................... 11-1 Chapter 12. Flowers - giving the market what it wants ............................................... 12-1 Chapter 13. Post-harvest management of Banksia ..................................................... 13-1 Chapter 14. Cool chain management of Banksia ......................................................... 14-1 Chapter 15. Grower profiles ........................................................................................... 15-1 Chapter 16. Management guidelines for remnant vegetation harvested for cut flowers................................................................................................... 16-1 APPENDIX: Other sources of information ........................................................ Appendix-1 iv The Banksia Production Manual INTRODUCTION There has long been a need for a Banksia Production Manual. The benefit of such a manual is the ability to bring together the material written and published in a range of other publications and reports. As far as possible the latest information has been reviewed and incorporated. Some of these areas have a limited set of information available and are accordingly brief. We have tried to incorporate grower information where possible to ensure that what is discussed has a practical grounding. While regulations and information was correct at the time of publication (April 2007), it is recommended that people using this manual consult with government organisations mentioned to confirm that they are still current. The Manual will give the reader access to a wide range of knowledge including that on the origin of Banksia, markets, production, irrigation, economics, pests, diseases and supply chain management. While the Manual is designed as a practical, easy to read document with sufficient detail to satisfy even the advanced grower, it should be consulted in association with other sources of advice. The Manual will provide insights and make general suggestions for direction but the final decisions will ultimately be those of the grower. Budgets and prices quoted are intended as a guide only. The Manual has been written specifically for Western Australian conditions. However, growers of Banksia anywhere will be able to learn from the knowledge included. The Manual is designed for those planning to grow Banksia, as well as existing growers who want to improve production practices and profitability. The Manual will also benefit the growers of ornamental Banksia in gardens and parks. The Manual is dedicated to the growers and researchers who have built up the knowledge base of the Banksia industry. v The Banksia Production Manual vi The Banksia Production Manual CHAPTER 1 Banksia - origins, distribution and biology Gerry Parlevliet, Senior Development Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Origin Distribution Banksia is one of the few Australian native The widest range of Banksia species (58) flowers that have a large inflorescence. As occurs in the south-west of Western a result, in the last 20-30 years, some Australia (George 1987) but there are 14 species with terminal flowering character- species restricted to the east coast and istics have been domesticated and culti- Tasmania (George 1987). A few grow in the vated for cut flowers. tropics of northern Australia, northern islands and parts of Papua New Guinea. Banksias have evolved over the last 40 to 50 million years. There are about 76 Banksias are mainly restricted to coastal species in Australia and near islands areas with reasonable rain. However, there (George 1987). are several species which grow with little rain and are drought tolerant in desert In 1770 Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander areas. Banksia elderiana grows in the collected,